Description
This fresh and vibrant “Jennifer Aniston Chickpea Salad” is packed with fluffy quinoa, nutty chickpeas, crunchy pistachios, crisp cucumber, and tangy feta — all tossed with lemon, olive oil, and fresh herbs like parsley and mint.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 cup (180 g) dry quinoa
- 2 cups (480 mL) water
- ¼ cup (60 mL) extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 2 lemons
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced and quartered
- ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
- ½ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
- ½ cup (62 g) roasted salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup (56 g) crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Place the chopped red onion in a small bowl of cold water and let it soak while you cook the quinoa (this helps mellow the onion’s sharpness).
- Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 15 minutes until tender. Remove the lid and let cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, parsley, mint, pistachios, drained onion, and feta cheese.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate for a few hours to let the flavors meld.
Notes
- You can substitute the quinoa with bulgur wheat, farro, or couscous depending on your preference or dietary needs. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- To make the salad vegan, omit the feta or use a plant‑based alternative. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- This salad stores well in the fridge — up to 4‑5 days in an airtight container. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course / Salad
- Method: Stovetop & Toss
- Cuisine: Mediterranean / Healthy
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 of 10 servings
- Calories: ≈ 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 13mg
